altara

Saturday, November 18, 2006

NEWS AND COMMENT

NEWS ITEM "In an indication that rank-and-file members would be willing to break from Ms. Pelosi, Democrats chose Mr. Hoyer over Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania by a decisive vote of 149 to 86" Ms. Pelosi is also trying to deny her onetime friend, Jane Harman, her expected chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee.

COMMENT

Now the Republicans must be thanking their lucky stars that the Speaker of the House will be Nancy Pelosi.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

NEWS AND COMMENT

NEWS ITEM

A spokesman for Abed Dhiab al-Ajeeli, the minister of higher education, said nearly 100 of about 150 captives were still being held a day after the kidnapping, at the ministry’s compound. But the government’s chief spokesman, Ali Dabbagh, contended that only 39 people had been kidnapped and that all but 2 had been released. Both men angrily dismissed the other’s comments as false.

COMMENT

So, no wonder that the Iraq mess is intractable. And which one of these guys is really Bagdad Bob?

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

RANDOM THOUGHTS

There are so many Bush administrative actions to be addressed and corrected that I'm not quite ready to suggest all that the Democrats should try to do. However, since so many viewers depend on this blog for guidance, I will offer some comment.

On Iraq, it seems that both the Republicans and the Democrats are eagerly awaiting the report of the study group headed by James Baker and Lee Hamilton. Mr. Bush hopes to use the report as cover for changing past decisions and courses that have not worked. The Democrats can use the report as cover for the fact that they have no idea what to do about Iraq.

In fact, no one has a clear idea of what course is most likely to succeed, or at least fail without the most dire consequences. The expected study group recommendation of trying to engage Syria and Iran in helping to solve the crisis lest it result in turmoil that harms them certainly seems worth a try. We should be talking to them anyway. I don't have a lot of hope for success with this approach. In other trouble spots, such as Rwanda, Lebanon, and Somalia, the neighboring nations were of little help.

I have tended to favor the the three-part solution, with the U.S. and, we would hope, other nations protecting against clashes and ensuring fair oil revenue sharing. But we can't impose this and a successful result is certainly not guaranteed.

Other prioities, such as global warming and tax cuts and other fiscal matters, to be addressed later.

In the meantime, it is heartening to note that recent scientific studies support increased consumption of red meat, wine, and chocolate.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

THE BIPARTISAN PRESIDENT

In 2001, Mr. Bush assumed the presidency claiming to be a "uniter, not a divider" and then for six years rode roughshod over the Democrats. During this year's campaign he said that election of the Democrats would be a victory for the terrorists.

So this guy is going to be bipartisan?

True to form, he's trying to get the Republican lame duck Congress to approve highly controversial items such as warrantless eavedropping, the appointment of John Bolton as ambassador to the UN, and the re-nomination of unacceptable judicial candidates.

November 12, 2006 At a morning press conference at RNC headquarters, it was announced that, on January 1st, former Senator George Allen will replace Ken Mehlman as chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Earlier this week, Mr. Mehlman announced his retirement from that post. RNC officials noted that that he had long planned to leave after the mid-term elections and that the unfortunate election results were not a factor in the decision. Mr. Mehlman stated that he had not made any long-term career plans but that his immediate project was completion of the book “Washington Lifestyles” that he is co-writing with Bill Maher.

In connection with his selection, Senator Allen was required, as was Howard Dean for his appointment as DNC chairman, to forego his planned candidacy for president in 2008. Mr. Allen said that this was not a difficult decision, since he had come to the conclusion that being president would not leave him enough time to spend with his family and his ranch.

At the close of his brief remarks, Senator Allen noted that he was looking forward to matching wits and campaign strategy with the incoming chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ned Lamont.